Johanne Margrete Tønset

  Research Notes:

Summary: Johanne Margret Tønset is my 6th half cousin, 3 times removed. Her mother was Kari Halvorsdatter Lillebo, 1871-1906. Our common ancestors go back several generations to the Hammersgaard family, and my 8th great grandfather, Gjermund Halvorsen Hammersgaard, 1634-1715. For more information see her grandfather's page, Halvor Persen Lillebo [1828-1910]. Also see Johanne Margrete's mother page for more information/

On 25 Dec 1917, Johanne Margrete is married in Røros to Jakob Persen Valdal [aka, Jacob Pederesen Waldal]. Johanne Margrete and Jacob P Waldal have three children, Alborg Sofie born in 1912, Gunnar born in 1919 and Kjellaug born in 1923. In 1926, Johanne Margret and Jacob left Røros for Canada; Alborg joined the family in 1928. Johanne and Jacob arrived at Quebec City and travelled to Forestburg, Alberta. Some of Johanne's aunts and uncle had settled and homesteaded in the area around Forestburg. Johanne's mother's sister, Johanne Kristina Lillebo and her husband John Halvorsen had come to the around 1905. Marit Halvorsdatter Lillebo and her husband, Olaf Nordvie, as did Jo or John Halvorsen Lillebo and his family and Maritn Halvorsen. Martin Lillebo was not married.

Although Jacob Waldal, aka, Jack Waldal, was a tailor in Røros he had purchased land about 20 kms east of Alliance, Alberta, or about 60 kms east and south of the town of Forestburg. He continue to farm until around 1956 [from about 1951 they lived in Edmonton, but farmed in the summer]. The rural community that they settled is known as Battle Bend. Their land was located on the E½ of Sec 22, Twp 40, Range 11, W4th.

A local history book "In the Battle of the Bend, Alliance and district" was published in 1976. It contains a brief biography of Jacob and Johanne Waldal and family [see below].

As indicated above Jacob or Jack Waldal and Johanne had 3 children. Their oldest daughter was Alborg. In 1929, she had married a local farmer, Sophus Theon, aka, Ben Theon and they farmed close by. I haven't found any evidence that Alborg and Spohus had children. Alborg died in Edmonton in 1941. Later in 1953 Sophus Theon had remarried. Note: the Forestburg local history book does not mention Sophus' marriage to Alborg, nor does Sophus' obit in the Edmonton Journal [issue 10 Jul 1974, page 46]. However through research I found them recorded in the 1931 Canada census, and I found their marriage year recorded in the Alberta Marriage records on the Alberta Provincial Archives and on the Ancestry collection, 'Alberta Marriages'.

Jacob and Johanne's son, Gunnar, aka Gunder was married in 1945 to Mary Jake. They had 2 daughters, Debbie and Linda. Jacob and Johannes other daughter used the given name of Shelah in Canada - she married Robert Davis. Shelah and Robert lived in Creston, BC - they had 2 sons, Robert and Ronald. Shelah died in 2003 in Creston; Bob Davis also died in 2003 in Edmonton.

Johanne Waldal, aka Johanne Margrete Tønset died in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on 18 Mar 1968. Jacob / Jack Waldal died in Edmoton on 23 Jul 1957.

notes written and finalized on 21 Aug 2025 by Rueben D Grue. All Rights Reserved.

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.. Camrose Public Lib ... In the Bend of the Battle, a history of Alliance and district, 1976 ... on UofC digital
and then, In the Bend of the Battle, the next generation, ... 2005 .... Camrose public library

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one Ancestry FT .... Waldal FT [Lynn Waldal]; access 14 Aug 2025
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/107292343/person/150059291268/facts
.. link is to Johanne / Johanna
.. very limited with no source information
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1. Edmonton Journal Obits:

Jack P Waldal, issue 25 Jul 1957, page 28
.. residence, 10223 124th St, Edmonton .. formerly of Hardisty, died at age 70 years .... died 23 Jul 1957
.. besides his wife, he is survived by son Gunder and one daughter, Shelah [Mrs R H Davis] and 4 grandchildren, all of Edmonton

Johanne / Johanna, issue 19 Mar 1968, p 24
.. residence, 10217 124th St, Edmonton ... died at age 67
.. survived by one daughter, Mrs R [Shelah] Davis; and one son, Gunder Waldah; both of Edmonton; 4 grandchildren

Alborg , issue 10 Jun 1941, page 18 .... Mrs Alborg Thoen
.. died 9 Jun [1941] ... Hardisty, age of 29
.. survived by parents, Mr and Mrs J P Waldal of Battle Bend; one sister, Sheila at home; one brother Gunder at home
then, from the Edmonton Bulletin, issue 20 Jun 1941, page 5
.. "Hardisty, Funeral Services held in the St Paul's United church here, for Mrs. A.* Theon of Battle Bend, who died recently in an Edmonton hospital, recently following a short illness ...
* the initial "A" most likely refers to her first name, Alborg

Gunder, Edmonton Journal, issue 27 Oct 1981, page 21 .... Gunder Waldal
.. died 28 Oct in Edmonton at age 62 years.
.. survived by wife Mary, 2 daughters, Mrs Steve (Debbie) Boddington from Edmonton and Mrs Steve (Linda) Cox of Calgary, and one grandson Victor Cox; one sister Mrs Shelah Davis of Creston

Edmonton Journal, issue 28 Oct 2003, page 20
... combined 'obit' for Shelah and Bob Davis
Shelah died on 29 Sep 2003, in Creston, BC
Bob died 3 weeks late on 20 Oct 2003 in Edmonton
- survived by sons Bob (pat) and Ron (Donna) ... grandchildren ... also members of the Waldal family in Edmonton and Calgary, and the Davis family in the US ...
- cremation ... no place of internment noted


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UofC digital .....
https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1OV2V402?WS=SearchResults&Flat=FP&FR_=1&W=1371&H=650

2. In the Bend of the Battle, a History of Alliance and District, 1976
page 581 [image 591] ... Waldal Family .. submitted by Mrs Sheila Davis and Gunder Waldal
.. came in 1926 to the Forestburg area, and then settled in the Battle Bend district on E½ Sec 22, Twp 40, Rge 11, W4th **
.. Jacob was a tailor in Norway but farmed in AB ...
.. Jacob and Johanne moved to Edmonton in 1951 ... Jacob continued to farm in the summers until 1956 when he retired
.. Jacob died Jul 1957 and Johanne died Mar 1961
.. Gunder and wife Mary live in Edmonton and have 2 daughters, Lynn and Debbie
.. Sheila married Bob Davis and live in Creston, BC ... 2 sons, Robert and Ronald who are both married

.. photo of Jacob, Johanne and Gunder and Sheila

** Jacob and Johanne's land is about 20 kms east of Alliance, Alberta, or about 60 kms east and south of the town of Forestburg. The easiet directions would be to take hwy 53 east of Forestburg continuing past the junction wtih Hwy 36 until the junction with Hwy 872 [about 25-30 kms] and then south on Hwy 872 to the junction with Twp Rd 410. Turn west for about 2 kms to Rge Rd 112 and then south for about 2 kms. Since some of these rural roads may not be passable, continut on Hwy 872 to Twp Rd 602, turning west - about 1 km takes you to the "community of Battle Bend" but I'm not sure if there is anything to distingush this. Keep west for another couple of Kms to Rge Rd 112 and turn north, abt 1 km and on the west side of the road would Sec 22. Acoording to Google Maps, there is no farmstead on this part of Sec 22.

.. * note that the Olaus Martin Theon family are noted on pag 572 of the above book. Their son Sophus is noted as married to Esther - their is no mention of his marriage to Alborg Sofie Waldal.

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3.

1931 Canada Census, Alberta, Camrose, sub-35 [Flagstaff, rural]; dw/fam 66/66, page 6 [image 7]; line 9
- indexed on Ancestry as: Jack Axaesae ?????
Jack Waldal, age 43 b in Norway, emigrated 1926, farmer
wife Joan, age 30 b in Nor, em 1926
son Gunder, age 12, b in Nor, em 1926
dau Sheila, age 8 b in Nor, em 1926
https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/62640/images/1931_217-e011749682?usePUB=true&_phsrc=YRs182&pId=5937352

note: page 7 [image 8] line 1, dw/fam 75 ..Sophius Theon, age 28 b in US [abt 1903]; wife Alborg age 19 b in Nor; em 1928

... O M Theon [indexed as Thome] page 5, dw/fam 57 [line 24]
wife and son Alrid [Alfrid], age 19
.. next, Oliver age 28 and wife Mable

*** note, the 1936 Canada census, Prairie provinces will be released in 2028


4. AB Voter's list .... image 157 ... ED Camrose, Rural Polling Divison, #123, Norway .... 1940
[includes the north 2/3 of Twp 40, range 11....
Jack Waldal, farmer, Battle Bend
Mrs Jack Waldal, Battle Bend
Gunder Waldal, farmer, Battle Bend

link to voter's list
https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/2983/images/33022_294141-01566?usePUB=true&_phsrc=YRs223&_phstart=successSource&pId=97252742

5. Canada Passenger lists .... arrival 18 Sept 1926 at Montreal on ship, Aurania

... going to Uncle, Martin Lillebo in Forestburg
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1263/images/CANIMM1913PLIST_2000908307-00277?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=829757


Norway, Emigration Records, 1867-1960 .... Trondheim Politikammer, 1926-1960 .... image 4 .... registered, 4 Sep 1926
[no moving-out records for this time period on Norway Parish Registers ...]
Jacob Pederssen Waldal, b 1887 in Røros
wife, Johanne Margrethe, b 1900 in Røros
son, Gunnar, b 1919, in Røros*
dau, Kjelaug, b 1923 in Røros**
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61757/images/61757_b1059964-00003?usePUB=true&_phsrc=Cgg374


6. 1920 Norway Census, Røros parish, residence - Flanderborg


001 Martin P. Valdal*011891-08-15Engerdalen-hpgTømmerhugger
002 Johanna J. Valdal011876-10-20Røros-hugHusmor
003 John M. Valdal011915-08-22Røros-sugpf.
004 Astrid M. Valdal011916-11-10Røros-dugpf.
* brother to Jacob

Jacob P. Valdal1888-06-06EngerdalenSkredder ved herreskredderverksted=
Tailor at men's tailoring workshop
actual birth is 6 Jun 1887
Johanna Margrete Valdal1900-12-12Røros-Husmor
Albjørg Sofie Valdal1911-09-12Røros-d
Gunnar Valdal1919-03-25Røros-s
... in the same household .. most likely Jacob P Valdal's brother Martin P, b 1891 and his wife and 2 children

link, https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/census/person/pf01074166002481
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Jacob .. birth 6 Jun 1887 Engerdal parish register, no. 1 /1881 - 1898, page 23 no 10
[ https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/6057/23 ]

marriage: 25 Dec 1917, Røros parish register, no. 681C06 /1906 - 1925, page 249, last entry for 1917
Jacob Persen Valdal, b 1887, Engerdalen ... his father Per Persen Valdal;
Johanna Margrete Tønset, b 1900 Røros ... her father Johannes Tønset
[ https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/5329/249 ]

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Emigration, 7 Sep 1926, Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway. ^10471,10472 Jacob Pedersen and Johanne Margrethe Waldal and son Gunnar and daughter Kjellaug [Sheila] register to leave for Canada

Johanne married Jacob Pedersen Waldal on 25 Dec 1917 in Røros, Sør Trondelag, Norway.¹⁰⁴⁶⁸ (Jacob Pedersen Waldal was born on 5 Jun 1887 in Engerdal, Hedmark Co, Norway,¹⁰⁴⁷³ died on 23 Jul 1957 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada ¹⁰⁴⁷⁴ and was buried in Edmonton Municipal Cemetery, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.)